HUGHTON LEFT FRUSTRATED

CITY manager Chris Hughton was disappointed with the goals the Canaries conceded in their 4-0 defeat to Manchester United at Carrow Road.

Putting an end to a four-match unbeaten run, City were on the end of a late tidal wave from the current Premier League leaders as a hat-trick from Japanese international Shinji Kagawa and a late strike from Wayne Rooney sealed the points for United.

And speaking after the game, City boss Chris Hughton pointed to the nature of the timing of the goals saying: “We conceded soft goals, by our standards. It's a real disappointment, I certainly don't think we deserved to come away by a margin of four. It's tough enough as it is having to come here without conceding some poor goals like we did.

“For good periods of the game we were very much in it. The first goal hurt us just before half time which was a soft goal to concede, we didn't create that much ourselves, but that second goal hurts us.

“At that stage you have to make a decision as to whether you settle for two or do you open up a little bit. We went for it and made a few changes, which made us a little more vulnerable but we hoped to be more of a threat, but of course with the quality they've got they were able to capitalise on that.”

The result still sees the Canaries handily placed in mid-table of the Barclays Premier League with 10 games left to go, and the City boss wants his side to quickly brush this result under the carpet with a big game against Southampton to come next weekend.

“We dust ourselves down,” said Hughton, “There have been times this season that we have been really good. It was always going to be a tough one here and we have to respect where we are.

“These are a team that are flying at the top of the division, they're playing Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday. I'd have to say, one mark of respect from them I'd like to think is the team that they put out today, the fact that you Rooney's and Van Persie's were all playing today I think is perhaps testament to how they treated us and this game."

The City boss also allayed fears of an injury to City winger Robert Snodgrass as he came off with 20 minutes to go to be replaced by Elliott Bennett, saying: “I just wanted to bring on some fresh legs to give us that spring.

“That was with the two up front I just wanted to freshen things up because it's always a tough shift you have to put out at Old Trafford - You know United are going to have a fair chunk of possession.”